Africa Corps withdraws from northern Mali

Russia's Africa Corps, part of the Russian Armed Forces, is withdrawing from northern Mali after reaching an agreement with the jihadist coalition Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). Convoys have pulled out of the key settlements of Kidal, Tessalit, and Aguelhok, indicating a broader retreat from the region. The withdrawal follows a large-scale jihadist offensive on April 25th that resulted in significant casualties. This development marks a major shift in the security landscape of northern Mali, where Russian forces had been supporting the Malian military.